Ladakh

Ladakh sits above 3,000 metres, a stark, wide-open landscape of bare mountains and glacial rivers that feels closer to Tibet than the rest of India. Leh, the main town, is a good base for acclimatising before heading out to Pangong Tso, whose water shifts between blue and green through the day, and Nubra Valley’s sand dunes, reached over the Khardung La pass.

Centuries-old Buddhist monasteries — Thiksey, Hemis, Diskit — sit perched on hillsides with prayer flags snapping in the wind, still active as places of worship rather than museum pieces. It’s a destination for travellers who want dramatic scenery, high-altitude adventure, and a slower, more contemplative pace.